Behavioral Question: "How do you handle stress/pressure...?"
When you're asked, "How do you handle stress/pressure...?" or "Tell me when the last time you faced a stressful situation, and how did you handle it?" the interviewer wants to find out whether you understand how pressure affects you, your work performance, and how you effectively manage it. As with all interview questions, it's a good idea to have examples ready to share.
The interviewer ultimately wants to know whether you can handle job-related stress, and what you do in particularly stressful situations at work. This is especially important if you’re interviewing for a position where stress is an integral part of the job. Because job stress can have a negative impact on workplace performance.
The hiring manager may also be wondering whether stressful issues outside of work have the potential to impact your job performance. Employers look for candidates who can handle a range of stressful situations, whether these are personal or strictly work-related.
To answer this question successfully, you'll want to provide specific examples of how you've handled stress well in the past. You might also provide examples of times when pressure actually made you work even harder and more productively.
Example 1:
"I try to react to situations rather than to stress. That way, I can handle the situation without becoming overly stressed. For example, when I deal with an unsatisfied customer, rather than focusing on feeling stressed, I focus on the task at hand. I believe my ability to communicate effectively with customers during these moments helps reduce my own stress. I think it also reduces any stress the customer may feel".
Example 2:
"I actually work better under pressure, and I've found that I enjoy working in a challenging environment. As a writer and editor, I thrive under tight deadlines and multiple projects. I find that when I have to work to a deadline, I can produce some of my most creative work. For example, my latest article, for which I won a regional writing award, was assigned to me only days before the due date. I used the pressure of that deadline to harness my creativity and focus".
Even if you suffer from anxiety when facing times of huge stress, you can still draw attention to your positive results. So think of examples of when you've succeeded while dealing with pressure before and choose the one that feels most relevant to the role you're interviewing for.
Never lie, if the stress of a certain kind of position may cause you to fail, then it's perfectly okay to pass on the opportunity. The initial sting of having to move forward will fade. Keep in mind that someone who would enjoy the pressure of the role, will excel, and you should choose a role, where your talents can really shine.